CVE-2025-46941
📋 TL;DR
A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager allows low-privileged attackers to inject malicious JavaScript into form fields. When users visit pages containing the compromised fields, their browsers execute the attacker's code. This affects AEM versions 6.5.22 and earlier.
💻 Affected Systems
- Adobe Experience Manager
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could steal administrator session cookies, perform actions as authenticated users, or redirect users to malicious sites, potentially leading to full system compromise.
Likely Case
Attackers with low privileges steal session cookies or credentials from other users, escalate privileges, or deface website content.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and output encoding, malicious scripts are neutralized before reaching user browsers, preventing exploitation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated low-privileged access; stored XSS typically has low technical complexity once vulnerable fields are identified.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 6.5.23 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/experience-manager/apsb25-48.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download AEM 6.5.23 or later from Adobe distribution. 2. Apply the service pack following Adobe's upgrade documentation. 3. Restart all AEM instances. 4. Verify the update completed successfully.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Validation and Output Encoding
allImplement strict input validation and output encoding for all user-controllable form fields to neutralize malicious scripts.
Content Security Policy (CSP)
allDeploy a strict Content Security Policy header to restrict script execution sources and mitigate XSS impact.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict low-privileged user access to form editing capabilities
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check AEM version via OSGi console (http://host:port/system/console/bundles) or CRX Package Manager; versions 6.5.22 or earlier are vulnerable.Check Version:
curl -s http://localhost:4502/system/console/bundles/org.apache.sling.installer.core | grep 'Adobe Experience Manager'Verify Fix Applied:
After patching, verify version shows 6.5.23 or later and test form fields with XSS payloads to confirm sanitization.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual form submissions with script tags or JavaScript code
- Multiple failed XSS attempts in request logs
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing script tags or JavaScript in form parameters
- Unexpected outbound connections from user browsers
SIEM Query:
source="aem_access.log" AND ("<script" OR "javascript:" OR "onerror=" OR "onload=")